I'm a bit confused about the whole weaning debate

[DaisyABandyBoobToo]

I've read a few weaning threads recently as DD is 16 weeks, and with my DS 5 years ago I had already started weaning him at this stage. I realise current advice is to wait till 6 months, but some things I've read seem confusing to me.

I have seen written a few times that baby gets more calories from milk than from solids so better to have milk alone.

However, if at this stage all you are giving them is a few teaspoons of baby rice mixed with either ebm or fm, then surely they are getting the same calories from a little baby rice on top of their usual milk quantities? It's not as if you are replacing a milk feed with solids at this stage; it's just a little extra to get them used to eating.

Can anyone clarify?

i did wonder...

ah this is interesting. i waited until 6 months to wean DS and he has taken to it brilliantly - has never rejected anything. have had friends who were trying to get me to wean early. they weaned their babies early(5 months) because they werent putting on enough weight (they are BF babies) but i am wondering whether and how this actually helps. surely its still not good for their babies to have solids early - is this still the case when they really havent thrived on breastmilk alone like fortuanately my DS did?

often it's a dozy HV who suggests early weaning to bf mums, saying the baby 'isn't putting on enough weight,' either that or a suggestion to 'top up.'

that's the problem with going to the HV on a regular basis

I haven't been at all with DS3 and have no idea how much he weighs but he seems fine to me.

I am doing BLW with him and my Mum looked after him today and said "I would have been a bit happier if I could have spooned sone food into him - he didn't seem to eat much" - don't know about that but he's had a good feed before bedtime and has been asleep since 7.30.

I am so proud of the fact that I held out til 6m with him and that the BLW is going so well - go with what you know is the right thing Daisy

I haven't been to get DD weighed nearly as much as I did with DS. With him I weent to the clinic every week, but mainly cos it was informal and we could sit around anc chat to the other mums etc. With DD I think I've been four or five times since she was born. She looks fine, not too thin and not too chubby and is growing and pooing etc.

She is feeding loads at the moment and I think at this stage is when people are advised to wean/top-up, but I'm not due back at work, and DS is in school, so if I have to sit feeding her all day I will.

I think her weight gain has slowed down and we are at clinic on Tuesday for her last lot of jabs. I'm thinking I won't even bother getting her weighed.

thanks for all the comments!